BANGARRA
Dance Theatre will become the first major Australian performing arts company to
tour Mongolia when it performs in the Central Asian country next week.

The national indigenous troupe, led by artistic director Stephen Page, will
perform two shows on September 22 and 23 in the Ulanbator Culture Palace,
Mongolia”s premier performing arts venue.

The company, which will stage Spirit — a compilation of recent works — has
been commissioned by the Mongolian Arts Council in collaboration with
sponsorship partner Rio Tinto for a nine-day tour of the country.

The tour comes as Rio Tinto prepares to open its Oyu Tolgoi gold and copper
mine in the Gobi desert, an operation representing the largest private
financial undertaking in Mongolia”s history.

Fourteen artists from the Sydney-based company, many of whose recent dance
works reference the effects of mining on traditional Aboriginal land, will also
hold workshops with local groups and colleges, and embark on a three-day trip
into the desert to speak to locals about their culture and exchange ideas.

Bangarra”s executive director Catherine Baldwin said the visit was a
watershed for the company.

“This is the first time an Australian company has toured Mongolia, and
we are very pleased to have been chosen as representatives of Australia”s arts
community,” she said.

“Even though it”s a developing country, there”s an active performing
arts scene in Mongolia and the company is excited to see what it looks like.
There will be some great cultural exchange.”

Bangarra will take a compact set of its own production gear to compensate
for the Cultural Palace”s antiquated lighting and stage equipment.

The tour comes amid the biggest annual program in the company”s 23-year
history. Bangarra has four mainstage productions this year, comprising 110
performances across the country, and is currently touring choreographer Frances
Rings”s Terrain.